Now the UN-backed Government of National Accord will need to begin inviting all parties to a comprehensive dialogue, argued Sagezli. If the government does not show commitment to speak to all parties, then how are they supposed to unite Libya if they can’t even unite themselves? Sagezli is a firm believer in full inclusion. The military and the security sector need reformation. In order to disarm, all the people who became militarized during the past few years and who carry weapons need to be included, and the militias need to be reintegrated.
But reintegration is not easy. “It is a long process that takes many years and involves multiple aspects,” Timothy Reid, a former UN worker in Libya told Al-Monitor. “The longer the conflict goes on, the more difficult it is.” Reid is concerned that if the root causes of the conflict are not addressed and the rule of law is not built up, reintegration is unlikely to work.
According to Ageli, IS is not the main threat to Libyan youth. The biggest problems are the economic situation, social grievances and the breakdown of social cohesion. Today, most of the suicide bombers in Libya are foreign, Ageli said, adding that the day we start seeing Libyan suicide attacks will be the indicator that Libyan youth have grown truly desperate.
(Fighter image via Shutterstock)